His Eminence, Eze Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi
By Margaret Munsi
THE Oba of Ogbaland in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Eminence, Eze Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi, has urged people of the state to embrace every process that would bring lasting peace.
The monarch was speaking on the backdrops of the forthcoming local government area elections scheduled for August 30, 2025.
Speaking virtually, during a Town Hall Meeting on the topic, “Strengthening Local Governance Through Dialogue and Participation”, with broad subject, “The Rivers We Want”, organized by Rivers Peace Initiative (RPI) in partnership with Centre for Peace and Security Studies, University of Port Harcourt and Super 93.3 FM, Port Harcourt, the royal father regretted the setbacks Rivers State had suffered because few of their sons decided to fight dirty politically.
His Eminence Eze Nnam-Obi thanked President Bola Tinubu and others who intervened through the declaration of State of Emergency and appointment of a sole administrator to contain potential breakdown of peace and order.
The monarch enjoined Rivers people to support whatever that would help to restore peace and democratic system in the state just as he commended the group for organizing the town hall meeting.
Though he described emergency rule as an aberration, the royal father advised that the condition Rivers has presently found itself, being legalistic cannot help the state.
Eze Nnam-Obi expressed: “There must be a way forward for every situation; and if not what we have been thinking, if it seems to be yielding the necessary results, then, I don’t see what is wrong with it. The constitution was there when things were not done right.
“Thank you to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all those who worked with him to think of a way or means of breaking the jinx because both sides were not doing well. We know that those that refused to hear before are beginning to listen, and we have an opportunity and a shout for peace where everybody can begin to do what they think and manage.
“I think time is ripe that we need to reconsider our situation, a lot is lost, a lot has gone behind creating problems. I believe that if we begin to do the right things now, it will go well. That is why I am happy that considering a local government election, there might be other way of describing what they want to do.
“If by what we do will enable them return back to what it should be, we are called for it. The same way we accepted emergency rule, the same way we accepted as a sovereignty in the state, the same way we can move forward what is emerging if eventually it will grant us the opportunity to do what is right.
“I believe that the Rivers people are waiting to see their democratically elected governor. I believe that every Rivers man is desirous to be governed by a democratic society as other states in this country are”, the monarch emphasized.
Earlier, Convener of Rivers Peace Initiative, Obinna Ebogidi, said the town hall meeting was more than a gathering, but a call to conscience and a reminder of what the people can be when they choose dialogue over division, and peace over conflict.
Ebogidi said the forum is aimed at proving a platform where the people could know how they can disagree without being enemies, and how they can compete without destroying the very fabric of the society.
He insisted that togetherness would help the society to navigate the big question on how the people can strengthen participation in the forthcoming local government elections while ensuring peace and unity.